Fifteen years in the modeling industry provided Jen with an up-close look at the inner workings of one the most glamorized industries in the world. Represented by world-renowned modeling agencies FORD NYC, Nina Blanchard of Los Angeles (now FORD L.A.), FASHION Milan and NOVA Munich, Jen knows all too well what the modeling business is really like behind the scenes. At eight years old, she began doing little fashion shows; at fifteen, she did her first television commercial; and at seventeen, she moved to Europe to work professionally. In the coming years, she lived and/or worked in Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Australia, and New Zealand, not to mention Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Seattle and several other American cities. When Jen was eighteen, the legendary modeling agent Nina Blanchard, along with Hard Copy, named her the “Face of the ‘90s.” She did television commercials for Oil of O’lay, Mercedes Benz, Converse Tennis Shoes, Cherry Coke, Fanta Orange, Taco Bell and Vibrance shampoo; starred in a music video for Styx; appeared in Vogue, Glamour, ‘Teen and more; did a high-profile fashion campaign for Jordache, regularly appeared in the Eddie Bauer catalogue, and represented Elizabeth Arden and modeled the Crown Jewels in Australia. At the height of her career, she worked regularly for Giorgio Armani in Milan, appeared as “Barbie” for the doll’s 35th anniversary in Italy, and was seen on the covers and in the pages of fashion magazines all across Europe. At 23, Jen discovered the surpassing love of Christ, and left the modeling industry in search of a more authentic life.

While working in Los Angeles and abroad, Jen maintained an academic scholarship at the University of Southern California, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in International Relations. After leaving the modeling industry, she earned a Master’s degree in Writing and Literature with a thesis in Biblical Literature from California State University San Marcos. She has taught college-level composition; served as a writing tutor on the Cal State campus; and (her favorite) taught junior high and high school English at a Christian school.

Family

Today, Jen has found her best life as a wife to her wonderful husband, Shane, and stay-at-home Mom to her two children, Olivia, 5, and Zach, 3. In all her years of modeling, traveling and studying, Jen would have never guessed that the most fulfilling roles in her life would become that of being – first, a Daughter of God – and second, a wife and mother. Loving those that God has put in her life fulfills her in a way that nothing else could.